Glycemic control and organ transplantation.

A discussion of hyperglycemia during organ transplantation is a broad topic that includes patients with a known history of diabetes pretransplant, those at risk for post-transplant diabetes, those with stress-induced hyperglycemia, those with hyperglycemia related to immunosuppressive therapy, and hyperglycemia in the deceased organ donor. In contrast to the plethora of articles and studies describing perioperative and critical care management of hyperglycemia in cardiac, trauma, and medical/surgical intensive care unit patients, relatively few published articles in the field of organ transplantation can be found. This article consists of a review of available literature in the form of publications and abstracts, and a preliminary report of the authors' work with liver transplantation and deceased organ donors.